Lightning-conductor for telephone-lines.



M. G. MITCHELL.

LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR FOR TELEPHONE LINES. APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 16, 1909.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

.nummuunu H9525; Mm

UNITED STATES PATENT enrich MELVIN G. MITGHELI; OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, IBY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO NATIONAL-STANDARD COMPANY, OF NILE-S, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

Application filed September 16, 1909. Serial No. 518,017.

T all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MELVIN GIMITGHELL, a resident of South Bend, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Lightning- Conductors for Telephone-Lines, of which the following is a full, clear,'and exact description.

The invention relates to lightning arresters and more particularly connections for diverting lightning from a telephone-line to the lightningconductor: with which bu1ldings are usually equipped. For this purpose a suitable connection is established between the telephone-line and the lightning conductor which will not interfere with the telephone-service, but will direct the lightning from the telephone line to the lightning conductor.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more perticularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration showing a lightning-conductor and a telephone-line equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the improved connection, one of the sections of the attaching block being removed. Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section on line H of Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the sections of the attaching block, and Fig. 6 is a perspective of the other section of the block.

A denotes a lightning-conductor provided with one or more distributer-points and having its terminals grounded, as well understood in the art.

B denotes a telephone-line comprising line-conductors b, b which are secured to insulating and connecting posts 0 from which the usual connections are made to a set of telephone-instruments 6 It sometimes occurs that lightning passes over the telephone-line and thus results in serious damage to the building and the line, and in order to direct the'lightning from the telephone-line to the lightning-conductor A, a suitable connection is provided which will cause the lightning to be diverted from the line before it reaches or passes beyond the one end which is adapted to pass around one of the branches of the telephone-line. Each branchd is curved or bowed outwardly to extend outwardly around the adjacent'post c and prevent induction between said branches and the telephone-line adjacent said posts and between said branches. The other terminal of each conductor d is formed with a maintainer-head f usually a ball, and these balls are held in an attaching-block G formed of sections g, 9 having recesses g therein adapted to receive the head 7". The block G is formed of insulating material and is usually attached by screws 9 to the building, these screws serving also to clamp and hold the terminals of conductors d in the block and to support them at the desired point. A conductor h has a terminal formed with a head 2' usually spherical, which is adapted to be held in a recess 9 formed in the attaching-block G and has its other terminal provided with a loop or ring terminal h. A branch-conductor a connected to the lightning-conductor A has its other terminal wrapped or. coiled around loop h and conductor h to electrically connect said conductors. This head i is disposed between the heads 7 on the conductors d respectively,

and separated therefrom, so that a sparkgap will be formed between the head 2' and each of the heads f, a suitable space being left between-the block-sections for this purpose.

When lightning passes over one of the conductors of the telephone-line, in lieu of passing beyond the posts 0, it will pass from said conductor to and through the chokecoil 6 and thence through conductor cl to its maintainer head f, thence across the gap between the head f and the head i to the latter, thence through conductor h to the branch-conductor a and thence to the lightning-conductor A. Thus, two opposite electrical conditions or opposing forces are established to break down or equalize, which phone instruments which 'might result in serious damage to said instruments and the. building. c c

The device is simple in construction and provides efiicient means for conducting lightning from the telephone line to'the lightning-conductor. The. device may be readily installed and provides asimple connection for conducting li htning from the telephone-line to the lig tning-conductor. The gaps or interruptions in the connection serve to insulate the lightning conductor from the telephone-conductor, so that the operation of the telephone line will not be affected. The insulating attaching-block serves jointly as means for securing the connection to a building and by forming it in sections, it also serves to maintain the partsof the connection in proper relation.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details shown and described, since these maybe modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the.

25 invention.

ters' Patent, is:

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let- 1. The combination with wire terminals, disposed to form spark gaps -therebetween, of a recessed insulating block for holding said terminals in proper relation and formed in registering sections between which said terminals are clamped, the

branches of said terminalsextending out-' wardly ing faces of said sections.

2. The combination with wire terminals each having a head thereon disposed to form spark gaps therebetwe'en, of a recessed insulating block in which said heads are held and formed in' registering sections between which said terminals are clamped, the branches of said terminals extending outwardly in registering grooves in the meet- 4 ing faces of said sections.

MELVIN G. MITCHELL. Witnesses:

' WILBUR N BURNS, ANNA M. Do.

in registering grooves in the meet- 

